Spark-intensifier.



R. M. SUTHERLIN.

SPARK lNTENSlFH-IR.

APPLICATlON FILED 00121, was.

Patented NOV, 21, 1916.

whine/owe UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT M. SUTHERLIN, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

SPARK-INTENSIFIER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21., 1916.

Application filed October 21, 1915. Serial N 0. 57,075.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ROBERT M. SUTHERLIN, acitizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county ofJackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Spark-Intensifiers; and I do declare the following to bea full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to'make. and usethe same.

This invention relates to improvements in spark intensifiers for sparkplugs employed for internal combustion engines,.andv

the primary object of the invention is to provide an improvedintensifier in which a short circuit is impossible and also having anovel form of adjusting screw which increases or decreases the spark. Afurther object of the invention is to provide a device of this characterwhich is simple, durable in construction, inexpensive to manufacture,and one which will be very eiiicient in operation.

\Vith these and numerous other objects in view my invention consists ofthe novel features .of construction, combination and arrangementof-parts which will be hereinafter referred to and more particularlypointed out in the specification and claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation; Fig. 2 is acentral vertical longitudinal section; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section onthe line 33 of Fig. 2: Fig. 4 is a central vertical longitudinal sectionof a slightly modified form of my invention to receive a threaded bolt 4which projects upwardl therethrough having its head positioned beneaththe said link and its threaded shank projecting upwardly through theaperture 3 as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

A substantially circular shaped glass cas ing 5 has alined apertures 6and 7 in its top meral 13.

and bottom, and the aperture 7 in the bottom of the said casing receivesthe projecting shank of the threaded bolt 1. A portion of the shank ofsaid bolt projects into the recess in the said casing and is securely"held therein by means of a locking nut 8 which has a threadedengagement with the' said bolt to firmly and securely hold the link "1into engagement with the bottom of the glass-casing 5. 1

The alined aperture 6 in the top of the casing 5 has its inner wallscrew threaded, and is adapted to receive and securely hold therein anexternally threaded nut 9. This externally threaded nut 9 has athreadedbore 11 extending therethrough for a purpose to be hereinaftermore fully described.

The bore 11 which extends centrally through the nut 9 in the top of thecasing is adapted to engage with the headless screw 12 which isconsiderably longer than the said nut and the said screw is normallyengaged therewith adjacent its lower portion. The extreme lower portionof the headless screw 12 projects below the bottom portion of the nut,and is contracted to assume a frustoconical shape as clearly shown inFigs. 2 and 1 of the drawings. This contracted or frusto-conical shapedend of the screw is positioned a short distance above the thread ed bolt4 which projects upwardly through an aperture in the bottom of the glasscasing and a spark gap is formed between the two ends in the saidcasing.

Positioned on the upper end of the screw 12 is any ordinary type ofconnection, whereby the same is connected or brought in contact. withthe batteries from which the source 'of current is derived. Thisconnection which may be of the ordinary type used is designated in thedrawings by the nu- The connection 13 is securely held in contact withthe upper portion of the screw 12 by means of a pair of locking nuts 10and 14, the nut 10 being adapted to engage the screw 12 and to bepositioned on the top of the casing 5 at a point directly above the nut9 in the aperture in the top of the same. The locking nut 14 ispositioned above the locking nut 10, and the portion of the connection13 which surrounds the screw 12 is thereby by this means firmly andsecurely held in contact therewith. This forms an easy and simpleattaching means, by which this connection is made.

v Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawing illustrate a slightly modified form ofthis device; which embody a slight change in the construction or shapeof the aperture (3, in the top of the glass casing 5. In. Figs. 'land ofthe drawing this top aperture which is designated by the numeral. issquare, so that be inserted therein and locked by any desired form ofcement or other desired looking means. It will be noted that the squaredopening or aperture 15 will alwaysbe of broad characteristics of thisdevice.

sufiicient size so that the circular nut 9 may be inserted thereinshould it be desired at any time.

The operation of this device is obvious, and in general outline issimilar to the particular use in spark intensifiers effecting the Thecurrent is fed to this intensifier by means of the wire 13 anddownwardly through the screw 12. The gapin this device is between thelower point of the screw .12 and the upper end. of the bolt i, whichends are positioned within the glass casing5, and across which space thespark will jump when the current "is fed to the screw 12 as abovedescribed. The current is carried through the link 1 to the spark plugwhich is attached to the end of the same. By this arrangement of parts avery simple and eiiicient form of spark intensifier will he formed whichwill prevent any, possibility of av short circuit during the operationof this device. The glass casing which surrounds'the spark gap of thisintensifier is held firmly and securely in position against the arringmotion to which it is subject in use, and the frustoconical form of thespark gap point of the screw 12 greatly increases its etficiency. The

screw 12 is vertically adjustable throughthe central bore 11 of thecircular nut 9, so that the same may he moved to diiierent adgus'ted.positions with respect to the end oi. the bolt mousse l, to increase ordecrease the spark that is formed between the end of said screw and thebolt.

From the foregoing description of construction of my improved devicemanner of applying the same to use and the operation thereof will bereadily understood and it will be seen that I have provided a simple,inexpensive and eiiicient means for carrying out the objects o1 thisinvention. The spark in this device isvisible froin any angle owing tothe fact it is inclosed within a one piece glass casing or bowl and thedevice is free from danger of vaporized gas while in. use. it is readilyattached to automobiles, gasengines, motor cycles, acre planes, motorboats, and farm tractors, with perfect adjustment from a one sixtyfourth to near one half inch which regulates and intensifies at will ofthe operator thecurrent of old and new magnetos and batteries, producingperfect ignition when properly connected and regulated.

I claim as my invention:

A. spark intensifier for spark plugs comprising an elongated fiatmetallinlr aperthe tured adjacent its ends and connected at one.

end to a spark plug, a threaded bolt projecting upwardly through theaperture in the other end of said link, a substantially cylindricalshaped glass casing having alined openings at its top and bottom, thebottom opening adapted to receive said bolt, a lockiug nut on the end ofsaid bolt to securely hold the same in they casing, a centrally borednutin the opening in the top of the casing, a screw positioned in thebore in said nut having a frusto-conic'al point spaced from the end ofsaid bolt which is positioned in the casing, and adjustable locking nutson. the said screw above the said centrally bored nut adapted to securea wire from the source of current in contact with said screw. 7

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

ROBERT M. SUTHERLIN. Witnesses ESTHER M. Ross, H. F. McM LLnN.

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